Basti87

After I recently bought the "Salam | Anfas" from the same company, the Ishq has now followed. The price of this brand is quite steep, but if you get a discount, these fragrances are worth it. Especially as these fragrances are just so pleasing without being like one of many. When I saw that this Ishq was on offer, I quickly ordered a small bottle which totally won me over. It's just so beautiful and the strawberry note sticks in my mind like a catchy tune. The RRP of 305€ is quite a lot, but if you're looking for something special, you're not wrong here. This fragrance is very unique and definitely stands out from the crowd. A fragrance to feel good with these sensual and fruity notes that radiate a little warmth.

Packaging at Anfas is terrific. You get a great box that you can open. The details are beautifully forgiven in a metallic look. Here at Ishq there are also colorful metallic patterns and a great description in gold. Under Ishq is the poetic line: My love for you has no bounds. Definitely well made and does justice to the price.
The star of the creation is of course the strawberry. A note that is extremely rare in fragrances, especially as the main character. And if it is, it is extremely difficult to realize, as this note usually smells rather synthetic. Here you get a wonderful sweet-fruity strawberry. Simply very seductive and juicy, beautifully realized. Here you get a sophisticated fragrance that is somewhat playful due to the strawberry. Baccarat Rouge 540 (Eau de Parfum) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian" is listed here as a twin. Roughly speaking, they have a similar vibe, especially as they also share the notes saffron, jasmine and amber. However, the strawberry makes this fragrance special and sets it apart, so it doesn't have much to do with MFK. However, anyone looking for an alternative to this hackneyed BR400 could find it here.
Strawberry is the main protagonist for almost the entire fragrance. This is accompanied by sensual oriental saffron, which is rather mild compared to many fragrances with this note. A smooth jasmine note is also very present and lends this fragrance a gentle sensuality. A combo of amber and vanilla is also present and intensifies as it moves towards the drydown. For me, it's perfection overall, as I find this mixture of playful strawberry and sensual and cozy notes extremely good. I haven't worn this fragrance in the wild yet, but I'm sure that it stands out and will certainly bring many compliments. Whether for men or women.
Performance is really good. For the first few hours, you have a trail of fragrance permanently in your nose without appearing negative. Simply a great fragrance aura that makes you feel good. The longevity is also easily 12+ hours.

Overall, a wonderful, unique strawberry fragrance that I can't think of any other fragrance that goes in a similar direction. Baccarat Rouge in part, but here just with great strawberry. A fragrance that is best worn in the evening all year round. An enrichment for a broad collection, especially if you like sweet, sensual fragrances.

After I've already reviewed the other two in this series, the 3rd in this series naturally follows, the best in my opinion. I think the original "Le Beau | Jean Paul Gaultier" is successful and is great for the evening or that beach party feeling. I find the "Le Beau Paradise Garden | Jean Paul Gaultier" a bit unharmonious, although wearable and not a complete failure. I find this Le Parfum very balanced and for me it's a kind of all-rounder, as it's also great to wear in everyday life on warmer days. If you like this tropical vibe, you've come to the right place. The nice thing about this fragrance is that it is quite easy to wear and not overwhelming

The fragrance comes in this typical Gaultier tin. Even though it is not a flanker of Le Male, a great sub-series with coconut in the leading role has been developed here. In summer, it's a note that I really appreciate and that simply goes down well with the masses. It stands out from the usual citrus types in summer. If you believe the hypes of Virgin Island Water or, more recently, the Simone Andreoli fragrances, coconut is very well received.
The fragrance progression is very linear and therefore the fragrance notes are rightly not divided into top-heart-base. From start to finish, I think it's a great fragrance that starts off very tropical. The original DNA of Le Beau is clearly recognizable, but here the whole framework seems even more sophisticated. This extreme "Raffaello sweetness" is a little more subdued and sophisticated here and also fits very well into everyday summer life. In addition to the coconut note, there is above all fresh, juicy pineapple and lots of tonka bean, which provide a creamy-sweet coconut. Pleasant light wood and a subtle spiciness are also present in the background. Towards the end or drydown, the tonka becomes more present with a lot of pleasantly soft wood. Very harmonious overall, also reminds me of a somewhat more sophisticated version of "First Instinct Man (Eau de Toilette) | Abercrombie & Fitch"

Performance is great, especially because of the freshness. this fragrance lasts 10+ hours, as do the others in the range. I favor this Le Parfum in the overall package, also because it is versatile. The sillage is also perfect with this one. Well perceptible, but not overpowering as is important with exotic fragrances in many situations.
Price-performance ratio is fine. It was often out of stock in many stores. I don't know whether it is still in production or has been replaced by Paradise Garden. It's not cheap, but if you can find it for €80 per 125ml, that's fair in my opinion.

In conclusion, I can say: A very modern tropical fragrance that will certainly be well received and also performs very well.

I had been eyeing this fragrance for a long time and this year it made it into my collection. In terms of price, you can get this fragrance from the niche Collection Extraordinaire range at acceptable prices, otherwise this fragrance costs 150€ per 75ml, which is not completely excessive for this quality. However, if you wait for the right offer, it is available for less than €100. Overall, this range from Van Cleef & Arpels is absolutely beautiful and you get many different styles with around 40 fragrances. It's worth having a browse.
As an absolute fan of neroli and orange blossom, I naturally had to test/buy this one, which is also by Quentin Bisch. I like his creations and most of them suit my taste. For me, neroli is one of the most summery notes of all. There are hardly any notes that trigger a greater summer vibe in me. Of course, not all of them are like the well-known 4711, but much more modern and floral.

As with all fragrances in this range, the packaging is elegant and pretty, but not too voluminous. Matching this great bottle you get a noble box which has a similar look. The bottle is of course also visually impressive.
In terms of scent, this fragrance simply smells 100% like summer and is best suited to sunshine. It captures the vibes of summer and sunshine perfectly. Citrus, neroli, fresh orange blossom, clean and carefree, just as it should be in summer. The perfect mix of fresh citrus, summery floral notes and simply no-brainer freshness with a subtle spiciness.
The fragrance starts with a lot of orange blossom. A very gentle note that is also very clean. This orange blossom goes perfectly with a neat look, like a bright white shirt. It is simply wonderful in warm to hot temperatures, including bright sunshine. This neroli or orange blossom note is supported by a fresh, fruity citrus that is simply good for you and puts you in a good mood. Simply freshness and cleanliness paired with lots of summer vibes. There is also a very subtle spiciness that hovers in the background. After the top note of around 2 hours, the fragrance calms down and becomes a little closer to the skin, but performs really well for a freshie. Towards the end, the fragrance turns from a summer scent to a "softener", which I find really pleasant. It definitely goes well together. However, I think the top note is the most beautiful thing about this fragrance.
As I said, the performance is not bad for a freshie: 5-6 hours of longevity, really good sillage for the first 2-3 hours. As this is made more for the hours of sunshine, you can choose another fragrance for the evening.

To sum up: I love these modern orange blossom and neroli fragrances for summer. This scent simply reminds me of high summer and heat and is the perfect accompaniment. Plus this great citrus. Another tip on my part would be "Villa Néroli | bdk Parfums", which goes in a similar direction. All in all, a wonderful composition by Quentin Bisch.

This was a risky blind buy of mine: the Erba Oud by Sospiro. The thought of Erba Pura DNA paired with an oudy note was very tempting. Erba Pura is, of course, one of the hyped fragrances of recent years. The DNA has so much potential, but it's a little carried over and eventually runs out of steam. Oud also offers a great masculine counter-component. I'm not the biggest oud fan, but I like oudy elements with fruit or aquatic notes.
Sospiro is a brand that now produces in Dubai. After a very long dispute with Xerjoff, you can finally discuss and read about these great Sospiro fragrances here. Unfortunately, these fragrances are very difficult to obtain in Germany and only a few stores offer this brand. So at least they keep something unique. After the great "Vibrato | Sospiro" my 2nd of this brand.

As I said, a blind buy, as this was just offered at a fair price and the testing possibilities with this brand are not quite so easy. Definitely dangerous, as this is real oud according to my information. Anyone who has had little experience with oud should not make a blind buy here.
What were the expectations? An Erba Pura with a masculine oud note, with more rough edges. A clearly perceptible Erba Pura DNA. And that's what you get, at least after 20-30 minutes. Especially in the air, the fragrance is really very successful. I absolutely cannot understand all the negative statements, especially when it comes to the entire fragrance process. But real oud in particular is not for everyone.

The packaging and bottle are cool. Like the well-known V-Line from Xerjoff, but smaller in packaging and the bottles are also somewhat simpler. However, the velvet cover is much better made and feels great in the hand. The golden lid is also simply luxurious. Beautiful.
In terms of fragrance, the first few minutes are very challenging. On the one hand, the old familiar Erba Pura DNA, which is really beautiful. On the other hand, there is a cowhide DNA, which is not very pleasant. Even more bearable in the air than when smelled close to the skin. After the first few minutes of shock, however, this subsides and you get what you expect. An Erba Pura with edgy oud, which is already much more masculine. The fruit cocktail in the first few hours is very pleasant, with mainly peach and melon. Very fresh and fruity, as you would expect from this DNA. The cowhide oud note develops into a pleasing soft oud note that is nevertheless very present. Light, creamy musk is also present and provides a clean, well-groomed touch. The base finishes woody with light leather and a pleasant sweetness. Overall, a great oud-fruit fragrance that you could like even if you're not an oud fan, apart from the first few minutes.
Performance is rated correctly here and is already very Beastmode. Sillage is room-filling, especially when dosed generously. Pleasant with 2-3 sprays and always easily perceptible. Due to the strong sillage, however, it is not an everyday fragrance and is also less suitable for small enclosed spaces. A great alternative for clubbing, nightlife or simply to stand out.

Overall, a great fragrance that is well worth it. Anyone who likes an oud twist from the original Erba Pura should try this one, and not just for the first few minutes.

Mancera once again manages to attract a lot of people with its fragrance name and pyramid. Similar to "Tonka Cola | Mancera", people become quite curious and many risk a blind buy. Good marketing, I would say. Mancera almost always meets my taste anyway: appealing fragrances, great performance and not too special like many niche brands. Just like a balancing act between niche and designer, also in terms of price.

I've always found coffee fragrances very exciting. Of course, this one doesn't go in the natural coffee direction, as you can see from the pyramid. Nevertheless, the coffee note is very present. First and foremost, it is a sweet gourmand. The gourmand notes are already in the foreground, although this coffee start already seems quite bitter-sweet and a lot of coffee is present. If you want a rough idea of where the journey is heading: "Intense Cafe | Montale" is certainly a role model, although the rose has to be completely omitted here. Instead, an amaretto note has been added at the start, which goes perfectly with the gourmand coffee note with its boozy notes.
This fragrance gets off to a great start with this tart coffee note, paired with lots of vanilla sweetness and boozy amaretto. This liqueur note is convincing and harmonizes with this vanilla coffee. Speculoos is also subtly present and has a slightly cinnamony vibe. Very pleasant. The brown sugar is also present. I've always liked the smell of brown sugar and here the sugar note is more caramel-sweet. Overall, this fragrance is not a revolution in fragrance history, but a really pleasant, cozy scent that will go down well. Anyone looking for an alternative to Intense Cafe will find it here. Although it is not a fragrance twin, it is also very much in the coffee and gourmand vein. A great theme that is sure to work on cool days and in the evening.
Performance here is as good as with almost all Mancera's. Expected for gourmand fragrances like this one though. Lasting 10+ hours, pleasant sillage and not too penetrating like the Intense Cafe. You definitely get noticed.

All in all, once again a great release that those with a sweet tooth will find difficult to avoid. At least one test should be included with this Amore Caffe. A harmonious gourmand.